WORD

BIBLICAL

COMMENTARY

VOLUME 38A

Romans 1–8

JAMES D. G. DUNN

General Editors

Bruce M. Metzger

David A. Hubbard†

Glenn W. Barker†

Old Testament Editor

John D. W. Watts

New Testament Editor

Ralph P. Martin

WORD BOOKS, PUBLISHER • DALLAS, TEXAS

Word Biblical Commentary

Romans 1–8

Copyright © 1988 by Word, Incorporated

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Main entry under title:

Word biblical commentary.

Includes bibliographies.

1. Bible—Commentaries—Collected Works.

BS491.2.W67 220.7′7 81–71768

ISBN 0-8499-0237-1 (vol. 38A) AACR2

The author’s own translation of the Scripture text appears in italic type under the heading Translation.

To

Kingsley Barrett

and

Charles Cranfield

in whose steps it has been

my privilege to follow

Table of Contents

Editorial Preface

Author’s Preface

Abbreviations

General Bibliography

Commentary Bibliography

INTRODUCTION

1. The Author

Romans within the Context of His Life and Work (including date and place of origin)

2. The Recipients

The Origin and Character of the Christian Community in Rome

3. The Purpose of the Letter

Stated Objectives and Structure of the Letter

4. The Formal and Theological Coherence of the Letter

5. The New Perspective on Paul

Paul and the Law

ROMANS 1–8: TEXT AND COMMENTARY

I. Introduction (1:1–17)

A. Introductory Statement and Greetings (1:1–7)

Explanation

B. Personal Explanations (1:8–15)

Explanation

C. Summary Statement of the Letter’s Theme (1:16–17)

Explanation

II–V. The Righteousness of God—from God’s Faithfulness to Man’s Faith (1:18–11:36)

II–III. The Righteousness of God—To Man’s Faith (1:18–5:21)

II. The Wrath of God on Man’s Unrighteousness (1:18–3:20)

A. God’s Wrath on Humankind—From a Jewish Perspective (1:18–32)

Explanation

B. God’s Wrath on Jew First as Well as Gentile (2:1–3:8)

1. The Impartiality of God (2:1–11)

Explanation

2. Possession of the Law No Safeguard (2:12–16)

Explanation

3. Favored Status No Security (2:17–24)

Explanation

4. Circumcision No Guarantee (2:25–29)

Explanation

5. What Then of God’s Faithfulness? (3:1–8)

Explanation

C. Conclusion: God’s Judgment on All without Exception (3:9–20)

Explanation

III. God’s Saving Righteousness to Faith (3:21–5:21)

A. To Faith in Christ Jesus (3:21–31)

1. The Decisive Demonstration of God’s Righteousness in the Death of Jesus (3:21–26)

Explanation

2. The Consequences for the Self-Understanding of the Jewish People (3:27–31)

Explanation

B. Abraham as a Test Case (4:1–25)

Explanation

C. First Conclusions: The New Perspective of Faith in Relation to the Individual and to Humanity at Large (5:1–21)

1. The New Perspective on the Believer’s Present and Future (5:1–11)

Explanation

2. The New Perspective on God’s Righteous Purpose for Humankind (5:12–21)

Explanation

IV-V. The Outworking of This Gospel in Relation to the Individual and to the Election of Grace (6:1–11:36)

IV. The Outworking of the ...